You know an issue needs attention when an entire month is dedicated to its awareness! That is the case for keeping eyes safe and healthy while playing (or watching) sports. That’s why every September is Sports Eye Safety Month.
Why the need for an entire month? For starters, American emergency rooms treat tens of thousands of sports-related eye injuries every year. Blunt trauma is the cause of most of these injuries.
Although there are some very serious injuries that occur while participating in sports, such as orbital fractures, ruptures, and even detached retinas—these account for only about 10% of sports related eye injuries.
That means nearly 9 out of every 10 eye injuries could easily be prevented with the right precautions. Most often, these precautions simply include wearing appropriate protective eyewear.
Baseball and basketball lead to the most eye injuries, but water and racquet sports follow closely. Any sport that uses what winds up being a flying projectile at some point during play demands effective and approved eyewear.
Some of the sports less responsible for sending athletes to the doctor with an eye injury include cycling, swimming, gymnastics, and track. If you are looking for an eye-safe option, this is the list to choose from.
Even the youngest of athletes needs to wear approved eye protection and not rely on regular eyeglasses while playing sports. Protective eyewear should meet a standard of at least ASTM F803 protection.
Those numbers and letters may not mean much to you, but they ensure eyewear that boasts this standard withstands projectiles sized from 40mm to 65.1mm traveling at a rate of 90mph. You can only imagine the type of injury that might cause without protection!
Sports Eye Safety Month goes beyond just the court or field. Spectators should be diligent to protect the health of their eyes and their vision as well! Staying alert is critical for everyone.
With athletes heading back to the field and court this fall, it is important that their eyesight is adequately protected. Celebrate Sports Eye Safety Month by contacting a trusted team of eyecare professionals like those at Palmetto Eye & Laser Center. Contact Palmetto Eye & Laser Center today!
